Lisa Nandy has issued a message to British football club owners following reports that Manchester City has been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges of breaching Premier League financial rules.
City were charged back in February 2023 for allegations of breaching the league's financial rules. Reports yesterday (September 25) claim that the club have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges.
Appeal process and possible sanctions
The Manchester Evening News understands that City will be appealing the ruling. It is also understood this appeal process will not take place for months.
While there has been no confirmation of the decision from City or the Premier League, with an appeal still set to take place, a number of punishments are possible if Manchester City are ultimately found guilty. Sanctions can range from reprimands and fines to point deductions or expulsions.
Nandy: Fans need fairness and consistency
Speaking on BBC 5 Live on Saturday morning (September 26), the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said fans need to know rules are applied 'fairly and consistently'.
Nandy said: "I think most football fans will be feeling this is not a good moment for football as a whole and I think Manchester City fans will be feeling very, very anxious about what happens next. You'll know that this is a really long standing investigation that dates all the way back to allegations that began in 2009 and there is still a way to go with the investigation. Manchester City is contesting the charges."
"The football fans need to know that the rules are applied fairly and consistently. They need to know that they're upheld and they need to know that the right decision has been reached. I think we do have a way to go with this. Its very unsettling for football fans and I hope that it can be resolved swiftly as possible."
Government action and the Football Governance Act
Asked what resolving the issues would look like, she said it was between the Premier League and Manchester City. "These are rules that the Premier League drew up itself because of concerns many years ago when clubs weren't living within their means and that was having serious financial implications not just for individual clubs but the whole league. Not to overcomplicate it but these are quite complex rules that have been applied differently by different clubs," she said.
"We have already taken action as a Government to try and put football on a much more secure and consistent footing. The introduction of the Football Governance Act, the establishment of a football regulator, it was not without controversy but it was the right thing to do for fans because the regulator is able to look at the game as a whole, make sure the financial flow through the game is fair, that football is sustainable and to protect individual clubs as well."
Message to investors and the Wigan example
Speaking about Manchester City, she said it was for the Premier League to ensure the rules were 'fair, consistent and upheld'.
She said: "I'll obviously look very closely at what comes out of this. We can't apply those rules for the Premier League, they've got to do it themselves and they're going to have to resolve this as swiftly as possible for Manchester City, not just for the sake of City but for the sake of football."
"Its not for the Government to try and police all of the rules of football. Those rules are for the Premier League and are set by Premier League themselves. Our job to make sure that we uphold the integrity of game and make sure fans are put at the centre, that we protect clubs from the sort of hell that my own club had to go through - Wigan Athletic - and we've already acted on that. We've wasted no time in doing so."
Nandy said that her message to British football investors was that whilst they were 'grateful to them for investing in the game', they had a responsibility as custodians of the club.
"My message to all football investors is that we are grateful to you for investing in the game and we are grateful to you for the work that you do to help us sustain one of the sports that the UK is best at and brings joy to millions of people across the world but, you are custodians of the club and have a responsibility, not just to protect the clubs and hand them on in better shape but to hand the game on in better shape as well and to uphold those rules," she said.
Nandy added that she wanted to see the situation resolved 'as swiftly as possible', adding that 'if you don't have a fair process, it doesn't resolve it'.
A club spokesperson previously said: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023."
"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
